It's back to the routine. Not that the routine is bad. After the excitement of the holidays served with a side of sports, routine is a good thing.

Well, it is if it's presented correctly. And by correctly, we mean routine accompanied by a little something to take the edge off -- a good story, a creative outlet or a simple beer tasting. | Jan. 7, 2013»Read Full Blog Post(2)

Judy Garland's life story was told from the point of view of her daughter, Lorna Luft, on ABC with a 2001 miniseries titled “Me and My Shadows: Life with Judy Garland.”

In the last year of her troubled life, Judy Garland played a five-week cabaret residency at Talk of the Town, a London club. She was still one of the world's most famous singers and entertainers. But Garland was also an end-stage substance abuser, just engaged to the man who would become her fifth husband.

For centuries, the beauty and muscular power of horses have awed humans. "War Horse," the National Theatre of Great Britain's stage production, takes shameless and moving advantage of that fascination.

The North American touring production of "War Horse" visits the Marcus Center for eight shows beginning Tuesday. Just like the West End and Broadway productions, it stars Joey and Topthorn, gigantic horses brought to life by human puppeteers. | Jan. 3, 2014»Read Full Article(2)

In the late '70s, teenage M. Evelina Galang moved back and forth between two worlds: the mostly white world of Brookfield East High School, and the Filipino culture cherished at home by her immigrant parents.

"I didn't read books that reflected people of color, especially Filipino-Americans," Galang said of that time. | Jan. 3, 2014»Read Full Article

Sometimes I can hardly believe my luck — getting paid to peruse pins on Pinterest! In fact, there's a whole community of design-minded Milwaukeeans who help me brainstorm ideas for this weekly column via a board on Pinterest.

For my first Design Ideas column of 2014, I thought we'd look back at some of the better pins of the last year, in no particular order. | Jan. 3, 2014»Read Full Article

On Fridays I'm posting my thoughts on Lou Reed's solo albums, one album at a time in chronological order of release.

"Rock and Roll Heart," released in October 1976, was Reed's first album for Arista Records; more than one writer claims that Arista boss Clive Davis saved Reed from bankruptcy by signing him. (Their professional relationship would end badly later, with Reed moving back to RCA.) | Jan. 3, 2014»Read Full Blog Post

David M. Lutken was in nursery school when he first heard Woody Guthrie. As he grew older, he delved into the sounds, causes, people and events that shaped Guthrie; for him, Guthrie's existence was just as good a story as any of the tales he told in his songs.

"Finding out about him was just fascinating," Lutken said in a recent phone interview. "Even more than the music and the history and the politics, his life screamed out to me as something that would work on the stage." | Jan. 3, 2014»Read Full Article

Five Milwaukee chefs will prepare a dinner Jan. 12 at Carnevor in tribute to French Pastry School co-founder Jacquy Pfeiffer, and the public is invited.

Alsace native Pfeiffer is the new author of “The Art of French Pastry,” and the $150 dinner includes a signed copy of the book. The cost also includes beverage pairings with the five courses, with a focus on Alsatian wines, and gratuity. | Jan. 3, 2014»Read Full Blog Post

Drummer Louis Vecchio (right) will be in Milwaukee twice over the next two months with the band New Politics, opening for P!nk at the BMO Harris Bradley Center Jan. 9, and headlining a show at the Rave Feb. 8. Photo by David Austria.| Jan. 3, 2014»Read Full Blog Post